This year’s Dublin Coffman Faculty Production is a musical review titled “How to Eat Like a Child.”

Faculty will perform in this biennial show for the community with the help of students behind the scenes.

Ticket sales will benefit the Coffman High School PTO’s Shamrock Grant which funds projects in classrooms.

How to Eat Like a Child is a musical guide to the art of being a child as told by from a child’s point of view. It features humorous sketches about “How to Beg for a Dog,” “How to Watch More Television,” and “How to Laugh Hysterically.”

Even though the “lessons” are told from a child’s perspective, the production is not just children’s theater.

“It’s entertainment for all ages so it’s endearing and captivating for the young and young at heart,” Melanie Hitsman, the show’s publicist and producer said. Hitsman is also the International Baccalaureate Creativity Action & Service Coordinator at Coffman.

The show allows for students and faculty to work side by side after school hours.

Students participated in all the technical areas, from set building and painting, to light and sound design, and backstage crew during the performances. Rehearsals and set design began back in September.

Mark Mann, the show’s director, said in an e-mail that he enjoys directing shows, and that it is fun to get to know the staff in a different context other than co-workers.

Teachers rehearse a scene from the upcoming faculty musical review

“The shows always have casts of varying levels of experience, and it’s always gratifying to help them pull together as a unit, and create something fun for all involved–actors, crew, and audiences,” Mann said. This is Mann’s sixth staff show at Coffman.

Some of the teachers have little acting experience and so Mann said that it can be fun to watch them work discover how to do something they didn’t think they could do.

“What I enjoy most is seeing different facets of the staff, watching a shy person burst out on stage, an inexperienced actor suddenly taking center stage and belting a song,” said Mann.

The Dublin Coffman Faculty Production began eight years ago. They have performed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, HONK, Snoopy – The Musical and Charlotte’s Web.

Since the shows ask faculty to take on a great deal of increased responsibility, it occurs only every two years.

Hitsman said that the shows typically sell out and that community members always look forward to the performance.

Live accompaniment was arranged by musical director, Andrew Garner.

The show is based on the 1978 book by Delia Ephron, How to Eat Like a Child. A musical comedy television special by the same name aired in 1981.

You can see “How to Eat Like a Child” on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday December 4 at 7 PM and Saturday December 6 at 1 PM at Dublin Coffman High School Performing Arts center, 6780 Coffman Road, Dublin Ohio. Tickets are $4 for students and $7 for adults and are now available at Dublin Coffman High School or by calling 718-8140. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Hitsman said that there will also be a book drive benefitting the African Library Project, which helps build primary school libraries in Swaziland, South Africa. She encourages community members to bring a gently used or new Pre-K through 4th grade book to the performance.

For more information, contact Melanie Hitsman at hitsman_melanie@dublinschools.net